TOKYO (AP) — An unmanned lunar spacecraft has captured and transmitted data analyzing 10 lunar rocks, a greater-than-expected achievement that could help provide clues about the origin of the moon, a Japan space agency official said Wednesday.
A black-and-white photo transmitted soon after SLIM was reactivated showed the bumpy lunar surface, including six rocks.
By comparing the mineral compositions of moon rocks and those of Earth, they could find out if the rocks have common elements, he said.
SLIM carried two autonomous probes which were released just before touchdown, recording the landing, surroundings and other lunar data.
The landing made Japan the world's fifth country to reach the moon, after the United States, the Soviet Union, China and India.
Persons:
SLIM, —, Shinichiro Sakai, ”, ” Sakai
Organizations:
TOKYO, Smart, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA
Locations:
Japan, United States, Soviet Union, China, India